Schuller network airs film about radical Islamists' plans

The controversial film about radical Islamsts titled "The Third Jihad" will air Sunday on the American Life Network. PHOTO COURTESY OF AMERICAN LIFE NETWORK

1 of 4

Robert A. Schuller, formerly senior pastor at the Crystal Cathedral, joined hands with his son-in-law Chris Myatt earlier this year to become president of the American Life Network. FILE PHOTO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 4

Robert A. Schuller, formerly senior pastor at the Crystal Cathedral, joined hands with his son-in-law Chris Myatt earlier this year to become president of the American Life Network. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

1 of 4

Chris Wyatt is CEO of American Life Network and son-in-law of former Crystal Cathedral senior pastor, Robert A. Schuller. PHOTO COURTESY OF AMERICAN LIFE NETWORK

The controversial film about radical Islamsts titled "The Third Jihad" will air Sunday on the American Life Network. PHOTO COURTESY OF AMERICAN LIFE NETWORK

American Life Network, the new home of former Crystal Cathedral senior pastor Robert A. Schuller, on Sunday will air "The Third Jihad: Radical Islam's Vision for America," a documentary that states that Islamic terrorists have a 100-year-plan to undermine the United States and rule the world.

The film offers interviews with radical extremists and the world leaders who are trying to stop them, said Chris Wyatt, the network's CEO and Schuller's son-in-law. Schuller, son of Crystal Cathedral founder Robert H. Schuller, left the Garden Grove megachurch after a much-publicized family feud. The older Schuller named his daughter, Sheila Schuller Coleman, to lead the Crystal Cathedral.

Wyatt says "The Third Jihad" offers Americans an honest view of the goal of radical Islamists. This is the U.S. television premiere for the film, he said.

"This film should be watched by every American family because it is not a religious issue, but one of national security," he said. "'The Third Jihad' takes an in-depth view of what (the radical Islamic groups) are saying. There are no gray areas here. It's all black and white."

The film will be screened on the same day the Islamic Center and many other mosques in Southern California are opening their doors to the communities to educate the public about Islam. These open houses began after 9/11 to show people what goes on in mosques, said Imam Muzammil Siddiqui, religious director at The Islamic Center of Orange County in Garden Grove.

Siddiqui said he hasn't heard of the documentary or seen it. But he said he is concerned when such a documentary is publicized because it gives all Muslims a bad name.

"As far as I have seen, these films take things out of context and they don't make a clear differentiation between the radicals and the rest of us," he said. "It's more confusing than educational."

Schuller was not available to comment today, but Wyatt said Schuller, as president of the network, made the decision to air the film because the American public needs to see it.

When Schuller joined hands with Wyatt in May to head this new network for Baby Boomers, he said ALN would focus on family-friendly programming, something he believed was lacking in other networks.

At the time, Wyatt and Schuller said ALN would not be another religious network along the lines of Trinity Broadcasting Network, but rather a for-profit "family-values channel" that would broadcast reruns of old, wholesome family shows such as "Mary Tyler Moore," "Mission Impossible" and "The Bob Newhart Show." In addition, they said there would be room for original programming such as reality shows, daytime talk shows and drama – all in keeping with the overarching theme of family values and wholesome entertainment.

Wyatt says the documentary is very much in line with those objectives because terrorism is an issue that affects every American family. He contends that the goal of radical Islam is to undermine the United States from within, get rid of the U.S. Constitution and dominate the world, an idea that he says comes across in the film.

"A number of American networks tend to steer clear of controversy in an effort to be politically correct," he said. "I don't think American Muslims should be offended by it. If anything this should be a wakeup call for them. If they are offended by what they see or hear in this film, they need to take action."

The documentary features former New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani, Senator Joe Lieberman, former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, former CIA director Jim Woolsey, and New York City Police Commissioner, Ray Kelly. It also features Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, president of the American-Islamic Forum for Democracy as well as a first-hand account from Tawfik Hamid, a former terrorist.

The network will also air another film titled "Obsession: Radical Islam's War against the West" on Dec. 8. Wyatt said this is the first time "Obsession" will be aired in its entirety on any U.S. network.

Wyatt said both he and Schuller stand firmly behind airing these controversial films.

"It's not about pointing fingers," he said. "But it's about taking valuable information and making it available to the American public."

Siddiqui said his goal is to welcome community members into the mosque so they can understand Islam's true teachings instead of "Islamophobic propaganda."

"We tell people what Islam is about, what we do here, how we educate our young people so nothing is left to their imagination," he said.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.